Operating gearing for washing machines and the like



l. H. DUNN April l5, 1930.

OPERATING GEARING FOR WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE v Filed June 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l `l. H. DUNN April 15, 1.930.

OPERATING GEARING FOR WASHING MCHINES AND THE LIKE Filed June 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y Patented A pr. 15, 1930 ,UNIrED STATES PATENT loI-I-Icl-z IRVD'G E. DUNN, OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE DEXTEE. COMPANY, OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IO'W'A OPERATING GEARING' FOR ,WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE v.Application led J'une 18,

,This invention relates to operating gearing for machines and the like, and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly set out in the appended claims.

The obect of the invention is to provide a novel an improved gearing of simple and economical construction and capable of ready and easy assembly, designed primarily for the water level therein, where it is connected to' the operating shaft, which is actuated and given an alternating rotary movement by gearing located below the tub and there connected to a drive shaft.

y The several objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully as I proceed Vwith my specification.

Figure 1 is a view representing a vertical central section jthrough a washing machine of the kind described and provided with my Aimproved gearing.

Figure 2 is a view on a somewhat enlarged scale showing a horizontal section through the gearing in a plane indicated by the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view representing a partial section in a plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1, illustrating the arts of the gearing in a different in Figure 2.

Referring now to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings 10 indicates the receptacle or tub of a washing machine. The tub as illustrated and pre- A ferred, ismade of copper with a bottom wall 12 and a cylindrical vertical side wall 13. 14 indicates a vertical operating shaft which extends upwardly through an aperture 12a in the tub bottom. 15 indicates the agitator lwith its tubular baiiie member 15aextending i upwardly tothe top end of the shaft 14.' 16

is a tubular stem surrounding the shaft 14 position rom that shown' 1928. Serial No. 286,273.

and rising from the tub bottom (being su ported in a manner presently to be described) and providing at its upper end bearing for the upper end of the shaft 14. A polygonal head 17 fixed to the top end of the shaft 14 55 and bearing against the top end of the tubular stem 16 provides for removable attachment of the top end of the tubular baille member 15a of the agitator. A knurled cap 18 engaged on a screw projecting upwardly through the top of the head 17 retains the agitator in operative engagement with the head 17.

Below the tub bottom and extending diametrically thereof, is a gear casing comprising a top shell 19 and a bottom shel120. The top shell 19 has an integral tubular bearing 21 located at the center of the tub bottom with a threaded part 21l1 which extends upwardly through the aperture 12a in the tub bottom 70 and upon which is screwed the bottom end of the tubular stem 16. Y Said stem has a bottom radial flange 16", which, with an annular boss 19 on the shell 19 formed about the bearing 21, engages between them the tub bottom wall 76 12, thus providing a rigid .support for the tubular stem 16 and a watertight seal between the'bottom end of said stem and the bottom wall of the tub. f

The bottom end of the shaft 14 is mounted so in the bearing 21 and has thrust bearing at 14a in a boss formed in the bottom shell 20-of the casing. A pinion 22 is fixed to the shaft 14 at its lower end in the neighborhood of the bottom of the shell 20.

23 indicates van auxiliary gear casing attached to the bottom member 20 of the main gear casing at the periphery of the tub. 24 is a short vertical drive shaft extending from the auxiliary gear case up into the main gear 90 case-and rovided with suitable bearings in both. Said' auxiliary gear case contains a worm 25 which drives a worm gear 26. fixed on the shaft 24.

A crank arm 27, -fixed to the shaft 24 in the 95 main gear casing, has fixed to it one end of a stud 28, which in turn has attached to its opl posite' end a crank arm 29 extending parallel to the first crank arm 27 and with the same axis of rotation. 30 indicates a shaft extend- 100 in vertically alongside the tub through a tu e 31 for operating the usual wringer mechanism. Said shaft has its axis of rotation in vertical alignment with t at of the shaft 24 and has the crank arm 2 xed to its bottom end.

The stud 28 provides a crank pin on which is pivotally mounted a coupling 32 located between the two crank arms 27 and 29. A horizontal rod 33 connects the coupling 32 to a coupling 34 located near the pinion 22. 35 indicates a short rack bar (see Figures 2 and 3) located below the plane of the rod 33 and adapted for engagement with the pinion 22. The coupling 34 is pivoted on a stud 36 rising from`the rack bar 35, which is thus operatively connected through the rod 33 and the two couplings 32 and 34, constituting a pitman rod, to the crank pin or stud 28.

Located in the plane of the rack bar 35 and adjacent the bottom wall of the shell is a rod 37 extending in general parallel relation to the pitman rod 33. Said rod 37 has fixed to one end a coupling 38 by means of whichit is pivotally connected to a vertical stud 39 rising from and attached to'l the bottom wall of the shell 20. The rack bar has laterally disposed, spaced, apertured ears 40, 40 which have sliding bearing on the rod 37.

The casing com rising the two shells 19 and 20 terminates just beyond the pinion 22 and there the top shell 19 has a lower horizontal part 41 with an aperture to receive a bearing plug 42 which snugly fits the aperture but is capable of a rotative movement for purposes of adjustment. To this end the plug, as shown, has a polygonal head to be engaged by a wrench. Eccentrically mounted in said bearing plug is a short vertical rock shaft 43 havingan arm 44 rigid therewith located below the bearing plug within the gear casing and carrying a depending pin 45. A crank arm 46 is fixed to the rock shaft 43 above the part :41 of the shell 19. The depending pin,45 engages in a slot 43a presented as shown by a forked member 47 fixedA to the proximate end of the rod 37 From an examination of Fi ures 2 and 3, it will be obvious that by roc ingy the shaft 43, the depending pin 45, by its engagement in the slot 43, may be made to swing the rod 37 upon its pivotal connection with'the stud 39,

thereby moving the rack `bar`35into or out of engagement withthe pinionf22. It will also be apparent that Iby rotating 'the bearing plug 42, the horizontal locationy of the' rock shaft 43 (eccentrically' mounted therein) with reference to the pitch line of the pinion 22, may be varied. Thus when assembling the gearing the operative position of the rack bar 35 may be accurately ad-.

usted for proper engagement of the rack ar with the p1nion22; and later, after the gearing has had long continuous use, it may be adjusted to compensate for wear.

A vertical rock shaft 48 located at the side of the tub 10 and 'mounted in suitableboarings 49, 58 at the bottom and top of the tub,

presents through an arm 51, at the top of the tub, means for operating the rock shaft 43. A-rock arm 52 xed to the bottom of said shaft 48 is operatively connected by a rod 53 and couplings 54, 55 to the said rock shaft 43 so that the rock shaft 43 may be -manipulated by the arm 51 at the top of the tub to move the rack bar 35 into engagement with the pinion 22, to impart an alternating, rotary movement to the operating shaft 14 by the rotary movement of the main shaft 24; or

by a reverse movement, to withdraw said rack bar from engagement with the pinion 22,

thus disconnecting the operating shaft 14 from the main drive shaft 24.

The main gear casing comprised of the top and bottom shells 19, 20 and the auxiliary gear casing 23 carried by the bottom shell 20, all of which may be made oil tight, entirely enclose the main shaft 24, the worm and gear for driving it, and all the gearing and connections between said main drive shaft, the wringer mechanism shaft 30, and the operating shaft 14 and including the operating mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the operating shaft 14 with respect to the drive shaft 24. A smooth, easy and noiseless operating gearing, as well as an easilyy operated disengaging mechanism for the operating shaft, is thus provided.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a gearing for washing machines an the like, a drive shaft, an operatin shaft, a pinion fixed to said operating sha a rack bar for engagement therewith, a. ivoted rodl on which said rack bar is slidab y'mounted, means connecting said rack bar and vdrive shaft for reciprocating said rack bar on said rod, a rock shaft at the free end of said rod,

an arm on said rock shaft operatively en-A gaged with said rod, and a plug capable of rotative movement in which said rock shaft has eccentric bearing. i

2. In a gearing for washing machines and the like, a gear casing, a rive shaft, an operating shaft, both shafts having bearings v111s f within said casing, a pinion fixed to slald operating shaft within the casing, a rack bar `for engagement with said pinion, a pivoted lvided with a head without the casing prgsenting means to bring about said movement,

and. means without'uthe casing operatively connected to said rock shaft for rocking the same.. A

In tes'timony-that I claimtle fore oing as 5 my invention, I ax my signature t is 12th day ofJune, A. D. 1928. i

' l IRVING H.- DI'JNN.l 

